Massachusetts
Massachusetts is committed to ensuring excellence within its schools and to supporting and developing its educator workforce. Massachusetts is a national leader in education and Career and Technical Education and is continuously looking for inspired, innovative, and nurturing individuals to join the state’s schools. DESE plays a pivotal role in ensuring access to high-quality education for all students in the Commonwealth. To support the goal of providing greater access and opportunities for students, DESE staff members are committed to developing and strengthening the knowledge, capacity, and skills necessary to understand and address how policies and practices can support more equitable student outcomes. The CTE Teacher Testing Program plays a critical role in identifying candidates to support this mission through the teacher licensure process. The technical specific written and performance exams assess the teacher candidate’s minimum competency under Chapter 74 law and regulations.
Technical Exams
Below is a list of technical exams available as part of the Massachusetts CTE Teacher Testing Program. To view an overview, including resources and candidate requirements for performance administration, click on the exam title.
An asterisk (*) following the test title name indicates the performance exam is currently under revision through DESE and is not available for scheduling yet.
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology
- Agricultural Mechanics
- Animal Science
- Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing
- Automotive Technology
- Baking
- Biotechnology
- Building & Property Maintenance *
- Business Technology
- Cabinetmaking
- Carpentry
- Construction Craft Laborer
- Cosmetology
- Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Dental Assisting
- Design & Visual Communications
- Diesel Technology
- Drafting
- Early Education & Care
- Electricity
- Electronics
- Engineering Technology
- Environmental Science and Technology
- Fashion Technology *
- Graphic Communications
- Health Assisting
- Heating-Ventilation-A.C.-Refrigeration
- Horticulture
- Hospitality Management
- Information Support Services & Networking
- Marine Service Technology
- Marketing
- Mason and Tile Setting
- Medical Assisting
- Metal Fabrication & Joining Technologies
- Painting & Design Technologies
- Plumbing
- Programming & Web Development
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
- Robotics & Automation Technology
- Sheet Metal Working *
- Stationary Engineering *
- Telecommunications & Fiber Optics *
Registration Process
Written Exam Registration
Please read and complete all parts of the registration form to successfully register to take a written exam for the Massachusetts CTE Teacher Testing Program. *Candidates must obtain a Massachusetts Education Personnel ID (MEPID) through the Educator Licensure and Renewal (ELAR) portal prior to submitting a registration form to NOCTI. The performance exam registration form will be accessible upon successfully completing the written exam.
Performance Exam Registration
NOCTI and DESE have worked together to offer a pre-registration opportunity for the Massachusetts CTE Teacher Testing Program for candidates who have passed the written exam. Please read and complete all parts of the form to successfully pre-register for a performance exam.
Resources
MA CTE Teacher Testing Program Candidate Handbook
This handbook contains detailed information on the Massachusetts CTE Teacher Testing Program and serves as a helpful resource for Candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out this resource for answers to commonly asked questions. This document will be updated as new questions come in and updates will be posted here.
At-A-Glance Resource
This helpful At-A-Glance document provides a brief overview of the CTE Teacher Testing Program process.
Score Interpretation Guide
The Score Interpretation Guide offers an overview of the candidate score report.